Mind the bumps, warns lalbaug Ganpati mandal

Organisers of Lalbaugcha Raja ask pregnant women to stay away from the pandal from next year to avoid mishaps

Organisers of Lalbaugcha Raja ask pregnant women to stayu00a0away from the pandal from next year to avoid mishaps

Tired of turning away pregnant women queuing up for darshan at the Lalbaugcha Raja for the last 10 days, organisers have asked expectant mothers to keep away from the crowded event next year.

Sanjay Gadekar, the treasurer of the Lalbaughcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, said the mandal does not want to be blamed if a mishap occurs.

"It is our humble request to everyone, if you are pregnant, avoid visiting the Lalbaugcha Raja. We don't want to be blamed if any thing goes wrong in the crowd," said Gadekar.

Incidentally, last year, a pregnant woman had to be hospitalised after she lost her balance in the huge crowd and fell.

Expecting Trouble: Last year, a pregnant woman was hospitalised after she was pushed around by the crowd at Lalbaugcha Raja.

Dr Pragji Vaja, who man's the mandal's makeshift camp, says there are four to five pregnant women a day at the pandal.

"I always try to make the women understand the consequences if they are crushed by the crowd. She can even lose her child."
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The mandal also wants senior citizens and physically challenged devotees to stay away.

"We do not want to be blamed when it is not our fault. Pregnant women are often ill, and they should not take risks," said Sunil Joshi, a member of the mandal's organising committee.

"We have attended to over 1,450 patients so far. The number includes pregnant women, kids and other patients," said Dr Annil Awhad, another doctor roped in by the mandal.

Visarjan Preparations

The mandal shut the navas queue, meant for those who seek the deity's intervention, at 7 am on Wednesday.
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The mukhdarshan queue, which is the queue for the standard darshan, was halted at 10 pm.
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The Lalbaugcha Raja will leave for visarjan at 10 am on Thursday and will be u00a0immersed early on Friday morning.
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The Navy has deployed relief teams at Malad, Ghatkopar, Mankhurd, Worli and Naval Dockyard and two diving teams at Girgaum and Powai.
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These teams will be fully equipped with underwater breathing apparatus, rescue gear and inflatable rafts.